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The organization describes itself as a "nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard in the political process.”.[6] It focuses on five broad issues: money in politics, elections and voting, ethics in government, government accountability, and media and democracy.[7]

At the state level, Common Cause has led successful efforts to pass campaign finance reforms, including the first disclosure laws, contribution limits and public financing in states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey, Michigan, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Florida.[citation needed]

Common Cause is currently working on legislation for voluntary public financing in Maryland, New Mexico, and other states.[citation needed]

Common Cause advocates a voter-verified paper audit trail for election machines in all states. In January 2008, Common Cause and the Verified Voting Foundation released a report entitled “Voting at Risk 2008” highlighting the problems with electronic voting machines. The report listed 17 states as “High-Risk”.[15][16]

Common Cause is in favor of establishing a national popular vote for presidential elections to replace the current electoral college system. Since 2005 Common Cause has advocated giving the District of Columbia voting rights in Congress.[17]

Common Cause was instrumental[19] in passage of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which was enacted on September 14, 2007. The bill strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.[20]

In 2011, the group hosted a rally near the site of a meeting of wealthy conservative activists organized by the Koch family. Christian Hartsock, a videographer who contributes to Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com, interviewed several attendees who made racist remarks about Thomas, such as suggesting he should be lynched and that he should be put back in the fields. Another person suggested that Fox News CEO Roger Ailes should be killed. Common Cause quickly condemned such rhetoric.[24][25]

The organization states that its annual combined budget is $12 million. This includes its sister educational foundation. Common Cause receives funding from, among other groups, liberal George Soros' Open Society Institute.[26]

Common Cause is funded by foundation grants, as well as contributions and membership fees from its nearly 80,000 paying members and donors. The organization claims 400,000 "members", but these are primarily advocates and email subscribers.[citation needed]

From 1980 through 1996, Common Cause published Common Cause Magazine.[27] The magazine, once termed "the little magazine that could,"[28] and described by the Washington Post as "a deeply researched, finger-in-your-eye sort of periodical",[29] paralleled the work of Common Cause and focused on issues such as campaign finance and government accountability.

The magazine won more than two dozen journalism awards, including five from Investigative Reporters and Editors, as well as a National Magazine Award for General Excellence.[29]

Common Cause considered acquiring the Washington Monthly magazine,[29] but the National Governing Board voted against the acquisition at its spring 2008 meeting.